Telugu Cinema and the other Regional Cinema Industries can breathe in relief as the Central government has clarified that the GST Rates for Cinema were not confirmed yet and assured that Regional Cinema and National Cinema will not be put in the same bracket while finalizing the GST Rates.
Regional Cinema is surviving at this moment because of state governments’ support in different forms like subsidies or tax exemption. All these will be curbed if a common GST rate will be introduced and that will benefit Hindi and English Cinema killing the Regional Cinema Industries.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hinted about having different slabs for National Cinema and for Regional Films. Another meeting will be held with the finance minister late December or mid-January on the GST issue in which representatives of various Regional Film Industries will pour their ideas.
